Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest lap in the opening practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes 1-2 finish under evolving track conditions. Hamilton’s best time of 1:35.001 came in the final minutes, surpassing teammate George Russell by 0.396 seconds.
The session on the newly debuted Las Vegas Strip Circuit began with low-grip conditions, described by drivers as akin to driving in the wet due to dust on the surface. However, continuous laps improved the track’s grip, culminating in a flurry of fast laps late in the session.
Russell initially held the top spot with a 1:35.619, aided by a slipstream from Pierre Gasly, but Hamilton responded decisively with a lap 0.4 seconds faster to close the session. McLaren’s Lando Norris was third, nearly a second off Hamilton’s pace, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Top 10 Standings – FP1
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:35.001
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.396
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.953
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +1.006
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +1.037
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +1.217
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +1.261
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +1.450
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.477
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – +1.535
Session Highlights
- Track evolution was significant, with early lap times being several seconds slower due to dusty conditions.
- Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc briefly topped the timesheet on soft tires, setting a 1:36.430, before being surpassed.
- Lando Norris led the charge for McLaren with a strong 1:35.954 on softs before settling for third.
- Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, ended fifth, 1.037 seconds off the pace.
As drivers and teams adapt to the unique Las Vegas layout, the session highlighted the importance of tire preparation and adaptability to rapidly changing track conditions.
